Lessoc Fountain

Parc naturel régional Gruyère Pays-d'Enhaut - The fountain consists of an octagonal limestone basin with a central pillar holding an obelisk. It was built in 1796 by the mason, Jacques Vicarino and the blacksmith, Noé Both. Its eight-sided dome is said to be in imperial style. It was a gift from a wealthy inhabitant of Lessoc, Louis Zurich who earned his riches in the cheese market.

Here is the famous legend of Lessoc Fountain:
Good Colin loved his birth-village of Lessoc. In fact he loved it so much that he rarely ventured too far from his homeland. His favorite part was the lovely village fountain where cows came to drink, morning and evening; and where women came together to wash their clothing, just as well-versed in bleaching whites as discussing town gossip. One day, as the women did the washing, Colin passed by with his horse and cart, on his way to the fair in a neighboring village.
Colin sold two fine pigs and a black and white cow before heading home, with a smile on his lips and his wallet swollen in his pocket.

The journey was rough so Colin decided to take a break and stop at an inn along the way. There he ran into three of his childhood friends. The church bells had sounded midnight and several pitchers had been emptied when the friends finally parted ways.
When he got home, his wife, waiting and worried, reprimanded him at once, calling him selfish and mean: "While you were chewing the fat with you friends, you left Fanchette, your beloved mare dying of hunger and thirst!"
Colin had forgotte